One Innisfil resident is turning winter into art one snowy scoop at a time.
Armed with nothing but a shovel and a plethora of patience, the artist behind this wintry masterpiece spent an estimated 37-hours walking, shoveling and shaping snow into his latest creation, ‘Wally the Walrus’.
Built entirely by hand, with tens of thousands of shovels full, some snow even borrowed from neighbors and the nearby park, Ken Weichel managed to transform his front yard with his towering 12-foot-tall masterpiece.
“I get an enjoyment out of it and it’s for the kids, it really is for the kids and the neighbors. I love to see, I just love to see them coming around to look at it. It’s so nice.”
Wally isn’t just for show, the slippery sculpture features a built-in slide, designed for his grandkids and the youngsters in his neighborhood.
Over the years, Ken says he has created roughly eight large snow creations, each one more ambitious than the last. The Innisfil artist pulls inspiration online by making characters that kid’s can recognize and enjoy.
This years project began before Christmas, with the final result catching the attention of the neighborhood, including the town’s mayor who stopped by to admire the frosty art piece.
While the work can be very tedious and time consuming, Ken says it’s all worth it seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces.
